In honor of my Teacher, Liu Ming,
CHINESE ALMANAC ASTROLOGY
CHINESE ALMANAC ASTROLOGY
To support grace and ease / For the resolution of all beings
Commentary and compilations by Jamie Shulander
All notes from class notes/works by Liu Ming
INDICATORS Listed: Yearly, Monthly, Lunar then Daily
::: ::: ::: = Change
INDICATORS - The pattern components that continuously rotate per year, month, daily, lunar or solar phase. The indicators below articulate the current alignment.
LUNAR YEAR: YEAR of the BOAR
"Charged: plain speaking, caring, sensuous, compromising, eloquent, tolerant, humanitarian, reliable, unselfish, funny, hard-working, lucky and gregarious.
Deplete: self-indulgent, indulgent, oversexed, luxury loving, flamboyant, secretive, long-suffering, gullible and self destructive.
Image: The Chinese character for home includes the character for this Pig. Needless to say in Chinese astrology, Pigs are the most domestic of signs. A modest sacrificial animal since ancient times, it has become a mainstay of the Chinese diet - considered a ‘great transformer,’ able to make garbage into sweet white meat. In parts of China a family’s wealth is measured in the number of Pigs one owns. The wild boar mother is considered one of the fiercest animals alive. The mother boar will attack a Tiger seeking its young without an interest in surviving - the ultimate expression of aggression. Pigs collect material objects and derive great sustenance from them. They see stuff as art/food."
YIN EARTH BOAR (1899, 1959, 2019, 2079) ‘Monastery Pig’
Earth Boars are sensual, lethargic and aimless characters. They are hard to teach and hold very strong opinions. Their previous causes are strong but may support a hardened view of life. Attractive and popular socially they cannot maintain committed relationships (overly protective then cold). Those closest to them often become their worst enemies. Their material fortunes are however good and they live in comfort and luxury. Though they appear healthy they are plagued by chronic dampness."
::: ::: :::
LUNAR MONTH: YIN FIRE OX (1817, 1877, 1937, 1997, 2057) ‘Ox at the Lake’
"Fire Ox are assertive, focused and oafish characters. Their accomplishments are epic. They mature very quickly and/or are deprived of a normal childhood. Their strength (belligerence) creates enemies (hard knocks) but these enemies become their teachers. By midlife they will have overcome many obstacles to become well-known, prosperous and happy. They are likely to have more than one family and enjoy a ‘second childhood’ when they reach 60. They are prone to liver disorders and eye problems."
QI NODE: 22 Winter Solstice
Yin Rules
“The Winter Solstice qi node has the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is one of four annual pivots that rectify the annual qi. During this qi node qi is at its height at midnight! At the end of this qi node, the new calendar year begins. In the Chinese official calendar it is the mid-point of winter. The astrological year is still months away.
Yin peaks but in this same qi node it begins its inevitable decline - supreme yin gives birth to the flux of yang. Tigers mate. Christmas lights twinkle. Birth and death commingle, but life is cold and apparently dead now begins to move toward life.
Everywhere in Chinese cosmology black (dark) produces ‘yellow’ or light of the sun. ‘The darkest hour is just before dawn’.”
LM The Way of Three Treasures
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 19 Lin: Approach
"You must be patient and
appropriate in your progress, but do not procrastinate. The auspice is for
forward action."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 19 Lin
::: ::: :::
MONDAY December 30, Yin Metal Ox 5
Hexagram Consult the Oracle
Lunar Mansion: The Roof / Swallow
Solar Indicator: Divide
Go with tradition today, be
disciplined, gentle and let the Metal Ox character today, accommodating,
strong and reliable, lead the way.
“The key to the auspices
has to do with how you act in a dangerous situation…It is auspicious to stay
home, repair walls (security), remodel, take tonics and comply with superiors.
It is favorable for medical treatments, exercise and eating well. It is
favorable to raise roof beams and rafters (begin new construction). It is
auspicious for family gatherings at home. Alliances and collaborations come to
fruit and good 'luck'. This day is inauspicious for travel because you will be
robbed (road) or drowned (sea). Strangers and strange (foreign) places offer
calamity.”
LM Notes: The Roof
"Holding back on
this day is related to deeper self-reflection, education of all sorts and
consulting with experts and elders - rather than forward action. It is not
about immature reluctance or cowardice but about shedding inessentials."
LM Notes: Divide
TUESDAY December 31, Yang Water Tiger 6
Hexagram 61 Zhongful: Holding the
Center
Lunar Mansion: The House / Pig
Solar Indicator: Full
Water Tiger's are proud, stubborn
and strong, meanwhile the auspices of the day call for more discipline,
negotiation and a little polishing. Do what keeps calm...
"The action that
arises from stillness is able to ‘work wonders.’ A Zen archer lets the arrow
find the target without meddling."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 61 Zhongfu:
Holding the Center
“It is auspicious to
build, remodel and make fengshui adjustments (especially to enhance
career office/shop). It is auspicious to initiate business, negotiate and sign
contracts and get married (all of which have long-term benefit). Expect to be
generously compensated for work done today.
“Public welfare projects
succeed. Temple buildings brings benefits for many generations.
Conversely it is
auspicious to enter retreat if there is great sincerity (renunciation) and
strong resolve (compassion for others). The benefits you receive on this day
should be shared with others (living and dead). Burials on this day are
celebrated by both the living and dead ancestors (bring great wealth).
“It is not auspicious to
wait, procrastinate or be confrontational.”
LM Notes: The House
“This is an optimum day
for education, preparation, polishing, gathering resources and firming up
plans. Confidence grows as the right time and necessary resources are now part
of the vision. The qi is forming patterns and remaining in the channels.
Practice and disciplined cultivation bring confidence. The prince (yang) is
gaining support. Discipline in small matters succeeds. True confidence requires
no aggression. Though nothing needs to be done, the natural maturation of
strength occurs.”
LM Notes: Full
::: ::: :::
LUNAR HEXAGRAM: 3 Zhun: Sprouting
“Zhun is favorable for young
people, fresh thinking, new alliances, and gentle progress. Zhun is an
inspired, delicate and new situation needing unpretentious leadership and
experienced advice to grow. When Zhun is divined inexperience is the
basis for difficulties, there are no real outside obstacles. Delays should be
expected."
LM Changing: Zhouyi
::: ::: :::
WEDNESDAY January 1, Yin Water Rabbit 7
Hexagram 60 Jie: Juncture
Lunar Mansion: The Wall / Porcupine
Solar Indicator: Level
Today's auspices are quite
supportive for appropriate action and educated choices. The
character of the day, skittish, intuitive and untrusting, may feel
off balance...when in doubt be social and consult experts.
"Favorable for the
practice of circumspection and restraint. Being observant and conservative with
resources is auspicious. Knowing how to see and when to use limits brings
success."
LM Changing: Zhouyi 60 Jie: Juncture
"It is auspicious
to build, remodel and make fengshui adjustments (increase
opportunities/wealth [public part of home]). It is auspicious to initiate
business, sign contracts and get married (strengthen family ties). It is
auspicious for investments, banking (gardening [increase fertility]) and study
(the classics). It is an especially good day to exercise (martial arts),
socialize (create parties, feasts and celebrations). It is also advantageous to
travel, start a journey or vacation. NOT complying with the auspice of this
indicator may lead to madness and suicide.
"Contraindicated
activity: It is inauspicious to withdraw, begin an austerity or retreat."
LM Notes: The Wall
“This is a day when
stable readiness and the qi of confidence blooms into activity. Youthful
anxiety and ambition are replaced by personal strength and confidence. From
this position all things look and are possible. Educated choices are easily
acted upon. Others join you to enlarge the success of activity. The prince
(yang) is mature, if inexperienced, but ready to act independently of his
mother (yin). Pleasure is the outcome of disciplined practice. Yang qi’s
previously renegade quality is matured, integrated and dominant.”
LM Notes: Level
THURSDAY January 2, Yang Wood Dragon 4
Hexagram 41 Sun: Dimish
Lunar Mansion: The Stride / Wolf
Solar Indicator: Settle
Be innovative, focused and go with
fortification. Today's character is artistic, righteous and ingenious, a
nice match for the auspices, go with expansion of your heart and promote
creative economy.
“Sun is about how
sacrifice brings good fortune. It is also about the enlightened management of
diminished resources and the transformation of reduced circumstances into an
advantage. Sun is about attracting new resources into your life by
eliminating inessentials. It is a time when recycling the trappings of success
allows you to stay in power. It is when less is more.”
LM Changing: Zhouyi 41 Sun
"It is auspicious
to build, remodel or repair property (line clothing for winter) - in the sense
to fortify or strengthen. It is auspicious to transact routine business,
banking (anything that parallels the storing for winter), to plan but not speculate.
It is beneficial to receive medical treatments (qi in channels) It is favorable
to make amulets.
"It is inauspicious
to travel, argue or press lawsuits. It is not advised to dig the ground or bury
the dead."
LM Notes: The Stride
“Preparedness makes
action timely and successful. Tradition, convention, training, education - all
forms of readiness, inspire action. Forces join together and new alliances
produce unexpected results. Action taken with such thorough preparation is
bound to succeed. The qi of the day is stable, progressive and functional.
Clarity and calm (yin) are not unseated by action (yang). Focus and repetition
succeed. Procrastination and equivocation is contraindicated.”
LM Notes: Settle
::: ::: :::
In resolution and adventure...
Warmly,
Jamie Shulander
Instagram @jamieshulander
jshulander@gmail.com
415-450-7884
